Slideway for travelling flats in a carding machine

Abstract

A carding machine includes a main carding cylinder; a lateral support component situated laterally of the main carding cylinder; and a travelling flats assembly situated above the main carding cylinder and having a working path along an upper circumference. The travelling flats assembly has a first and a second end sprocket positioned at a beginning and at an end, respectively, of the working path; an endless drive element supported by the end sprockets; a slideway having a convex portion following the curvature of the main carding cylinder and a concave portion adjacent the convex portion and following the curvature of the first and second end sprockets, respectively; a fastening device for securing the slideway to the lateral component; and a plurality of flat bars carried by the endless drive element; each flat bar has a flat bar end supported on the slideway.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A carding machine comprising (a) a main carding cylinder;   (b) a flexible bend situated laterally of said main carding cylinder; and   (c) a travelling flats assembly situated above said main carding cylinder and having a working path along an upper circumference of said main carding cylinder; said travelling flats assembly including (1) a first and a second end sprocket positioned at a beginning and at an end, respectively, of said working path;   (2) an endless drive element trained about and supported by said first and second end sprockets;   (3) a slideway positioned on said flexible bend; said slideway having a convex portion following the curvature of said main carding cylinder along said working path and a concave portion adjacent said convex portion at the beginning and at the end, respectively, of said working path; said concave portions following the curvature of said first and second end sprockets, respectively;   (4) support means for holding said concave portions about said first and second end sprockets, respectively;   (5) a plurality of flat bars carried by said endless drive element, each flat bar having a flat bar end supported on said slideway for travel along said working path; and   (6) fastening means for fixedly securing said slideway to said flexible bend at a location of attachment; said location of attachment being situated in said convex portion of said slideway.     
     
     
       2. A carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said slideway has a free, linear terminal length adjoining each said concave portion and being tangential thereto. 
     
     
       3. A carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said location of attachment is situated in a zone of said first end sprocket. 
     
     
       4. A carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means including means for exerting a slight, radially inwardly directed pressure on said concave portions. 
     
     
       5. A carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said concave portions are thinner than said convex portion. 
     
     
       6. A carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said slideway is formed of a plastic-coated steel band. 
     
     
       7. A carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said concave portions are formed of a plastic-coated steel band. 
     
     
       8. A carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said concave portions are arranged coaxially relative to, and being looped about the respective said end sprockets. 
     
     
       9. A carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said slideway is a flexible plastic member. 
     
     
       10. A carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a support band extending coaxially with one of said end sprockets and is looped around one of said concave portions. 
     
     
       11. A carding machine comprising (a) a main carding cylinder;   (b) a flexible bend situated laterally of said main carding cylinder; and   (c) a travelling flats assembly situated above said main carding cylinder and having a working path along an upper circumference of said main carding cylinder; said travelling flats assembly including (1) a first and a second end sprocket positioned at a beginning and at an end, respectively, of said working path;   (2) an endless drive element trained about and supported by said first and second end sprockets;   (3) a slideway positioned on said flexible bend; said slideway having a convex portion following the curvature of said main carding cylinder along said working path and a concave portion adjacent said convex portion at the beginning and at the end, respectively, of said working path; said concave portions following the curvature of said first and second end sprockets, respectively;   (4) support means for holding said concave portions about said first and second end sprockets, respectively;   (5) a plurality of flat bars carried by said endless drive element, each flat bar having a flat bar end supported on said slideway for travel along said working path; and   (6) fastening means for fixedly securing said slideway to said flexible bend at a location of attachment; said location of attachment being situated in a zone of a beginning of said convex portion as viewed in a direction of advance of said flat bars along said working path.     
     
     
       12. A carding machine comprising (a) a main carding cylinder;   (b) a flexible bend situated laterally of said main carding cylinder; and   (c) a travelling flats assembly situated above said main carding cylinder and having a working path along an upper circumference of said main carding cylinder; said travelling flats assembly including (1) a first and a second end sprocket positioned at a beginning and at an end, respectively, of said working path;   (2) an endless drive element trained about and supported by said first and second end sprockets;   (3) a slideway positioned on said flexible bend; said slideway having a convex portion following the curvature of said main carding cylinder along said working path and a concave portion adjacent said convex portion at the beginning and at the end, respectively, of said working path; said concave portions following the curvature of said first and second end sprockets, respectively;   (4) support means for holding said concave portions about said first and second end sprockets, respectively;   (5) a plurality of flat bars carried by said endless drive element, each flat bar having a flat bar end supported on said slideway for travel along said working path;   (6) fastening means for fixedly securing said slideway to said flexible bend at a location of attachment; and   (7) support elements pivoted to said slideway and engaging said flexible bend.     
     
     
       13. A carding machine as defined in claim 12, wherein said support elements are arranged coaxially to the respective said end sprockets. 
     
     
       14. A carding machine comprising (a) a main carding cylinder;   (b) a flexible bend situated laterally of said main carding cylinder; and   (c) a travelling flats assembly situated above said main carding cylinder and having a working path along an upper circumference of said main carding cylinder; said travelling flats assembly including (1) a first and a second end sprocket positioned at a beginning and at an end, respectively, of said working path;   (2) an endless drive element trained about and supported by said first and second end sprockets;   (3) a slideway positioned on said flexible bend; said slideway having a convex portion following the curvature of said main carding cylinder along said working path and a concave portion adjacent said convex portion at the beginning and at the end, respectively, of said working path; said concave portions following the curvature of said first and second end sprockets, respectively; each said concave portion having a free end;   (4) support means for holding said concave portions about said first and second end sprockets, respectively;   (5) a plurality of flat bars carried by said endless drive element, each flat bar having a flat bar end supported on said slideway for travel along said working path;   (6) fastening means for fixedly securing said slideway to said flexible bend at a location of attachment; and   (7) force-exerting means for exerting a pulling force to the free end of said concave portions.     
     
     
       15. A carding machine as defined in claim 14, wherein said force-exerting means comprises a pivotally supported bellcrank level having one end carrying a weight and having another end attached at least indirectly to said free end. 
     
     
       16. A carding machine as defined in claim 14, wherein said force-exerting means comprises a tension spring. 
     
     
       17. A carding machine as defined in claim 16, wherein said tension spring has a flat spring characteristic. 
     
     
       18. A carding machine comprising (a) a main carding cylinder;   (b) a flexible bend situated laterally of said main carding cylinder; and   (c) a travelling flats assembly situated above said main carding cylinder and having a working path along an upper circumference of said main carding cylinder; said travelling flats assembly including (1) a first and a second end sprocket positioned at a beginning and at an end, respectively, of said working path;   (2) an endless drive element trained about and supported by said first and second end sprockets;   (3) a slideway positioned on said flexible bend; said slideway having a convex portion following the curvature of said main carding cylinder along said working path and a concave portion adjacent said convex portion at the beginning and at the end, respectively, of said working path; said concave portions following the curvature of said first and second end sprockets, respectively;   (4) support means for holding said concave portions about said first and second end sprockets, respectively;   (5) a plurality of flat bars carried by said endless drive element, each flat bar having a flat bar end supported on said slideway for travel along said working path;   (6) fastening means for fixedly securing said slideway to said flexible bend at a location of attachment; and   (7) a support band being co-extensive with said convex portion of said slideway and engaging an outer face of said convex portion.     
     
     
       19. A carding machine as defined in claim 18, further comprising a deflecting roller engaging said support band. 
     
     
       20. A carding machine as defined in claim 18, wherein said support band has first and second ends; said first end being fixedly supported; further comprising a force-exerting element attached to said second end.